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JATHIKA BHIKSHU PERAMUNA BURNS NORWEGIAN FLAG AND DEMANDS THAT JON WESTBORG SHOULD BE BANISHED FOR HELPING SEPARATISM
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles In a spectacular demonstration of protest against the Norwegian government, the Buddhist monks of the Jathika Bhikshu Peramuna burnt a Norwegian national flag in front of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, and walked to the Presidents House and handed over a petition to President Chandrika Kumaratunga demanding that the Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg should be named a persona non grata and be immediately banished for aiding separatist terrorists in the country. The Monday December 23, demonstration by the Buddhist monks, is the latest in wide spread protests in the island nation after it was accused by the country’s main opposition parties that ambassador Jon Westborg using diplomatic privileges imported a high powered broadcasting station equipment and VSAT communication earth station equipment for military communication for the separatist activities of the rebel group.
It has been accused, that the equipment allegedly compromising the security of the country was rushed to the rebels with the help of the office of the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, whom the rebel group very much wants to become the President of the country in a future election. The secretary of the Jathika Bhikshu Peramuna Venerable Kalawelgala Chandaloka said ambassador Jon Westborg had deviated from all diplomatic norms of an ambassador and directly aided the separation of Sri Lanka going beyond all restrictions of a foreign envoy. Venerable Chandaloka said that with utmost responsibility he was prepared to state that no inspection , as stated by the government , had been done on the imported equipment and Defense Secretary Austin Fernando was simply lying for the government when he stated that the equipment has been inspected. Venerable Chandaloka said Austin Fernando did not know actually what was in the container and he was only quoting a report someone else had written. He said the equipment had never been examined by anybody and when it was transported to the army check point at Omanthai the nearly 10 ton weighing equipment were in sealed containers. Army personnel were shown letters to state that the equipment belonged to an embassy and they strictly ordered the army personnel not to open the containers for inspection. While accepting there may be undue influence in the internal affairs of the country by such powers as the USA in the peace talks activities the Venerable Chandaloka said this was the first time this country’s internal affairs were interfered with so blatantly by a foreign nation like this, when Norway imported these equipment for military use by a separatist group in the country. While others do such irregular interference by subtle or indirect ways Jon Westborg had done it so blatantly and directly the Jathika Bhikshu Peramuna charged. He has committed the interference fortunately leaving very hard evidence against him the Bhikku organization pointed out. While doing it Jon Westborg had transgressed the bounds of all diplomatic norms the very vociferous Bhikku organization said. Mr. Westborg ‘S intention was to contribute his utmost to the country’s separatist campaign while pretending to be involved in a peace process Venerable Chandaloka charged. The whole nation could point the finger at him without any fear , the secretary of the Bhikku organization said. (EOM) (24/12/02 go2lanka.com) |
